Established by HKU Business School with funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute (“the Institute”) advances research, knowledge exchange, talent development and cross-sector collaboration in enterprise sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG). The Institute today (22 October) convened the “2026 Sustainability Forum: Global Leadership Dialogue” at the West Kowloon Cultural District. The forum brought together more than 200 leaders and experts from industry, academia and government worldwide to exchange perspectives on environmental and social challenges arising from sustainable development, and to explore practical pathways for translating expertise into viable solutions. The forum was also livestreamed, extending the discussions to audiences in Hong Kong and beyond.
Officiating at the opening ceremony was The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR; Dr Henry Chan, Club Steward; Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong; and Professor Hongbin Cai, Dean and Chair of Economics of HKU Business School, among other guests. Yves Leterme, former Prime Minister of Belgium and former Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), was also invited to attend the event and deliver the opening keynote address.
Also delivering a speech, Dr Henry Chan, Club Steward, said: “Sustainability has become an increasingly important lens through which the Trust strives to improve livability and long-term well-being in Hong Kong, as one of its nine impact programme areas. [At today’s forum] we will learn about turning knowledge into action by deepening cross-sector partnerships, nurturing the next generation of sustainability leaders and developing practical solutions that deliver lasting benefits for society.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony, The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR, said that impact investing should go beyond financial performance assessment. It should channel capital into livelihood and green sectors, such as healthcare and clean energy, so as to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth that balances social value and financial return.
Yves Leterme, former Prime Minister of Belgium and former Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, delivered the opening keynote address. He explored how sustainability co-operation can endure in the global economy through pragmatic, self-interest-driven action that prioritises interoperability over uniformity in standards and accounting.
The HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute was established in 2024 with an approved donation of over HK$426 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Reflecting the Trust’s commitment to fostering cross-sector collaboration, knowledge exchange and talent development, the Institute brings together academia, industry and policymakers to advance sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. Positioned as a knowledge hub connecting Hong Kong with Asia and the wider world, it promotes capacity building and stakeholder engagement, while supporting the translation of research and innovative ideas into practical solutions to complex environmental and societal challenges and contributing to Hong Kong’s long-term sustainable development.
As part of the initiative, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Endowed Professorships were established, comprising four endowed professorship positions across the fields of Economics, Finance and Entrepreneurship, and Accounting. By bringing distinguished international scholars to Hong Kong, the initiative strengthens research excellence, promotes knowledge exchange and helps translate academic insights into practical policy recommendations and solutions that contribute to a more livable, resilient, and sustainable society.
The Club’s support for the Institute, like all its charity and community initiatives, is made possible by its unique value creation model, through which the Club generates sustainable economic and social value for the community through tax contributions, charitable donations and employment opportunities.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) is a world-class horse sports and entertainment organisation that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique value creation model, through which the Club generates sustainable economic and social value for the benefit of the community and supports the HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2025/26, the Club returned a total of HK$39.3 billion to the community. This included HK$30.7 billion to the HKSAR Government in taxes and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$8.6 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is one of the world’s leading charity donors.
